Draft protection for a scale with side panels that slide through groves of both the hinged flip top and a partial front rear top frame

ABSTRACT

A draft protection device for a balance and a balance equipped with the draft protection device, wherein the draft protection device includes front and rear panels, two side panels and a top panel, and four posts which are fixedly mounted on a top cover of the balance, and wherein the posts extend vertically. The front and rear panels rest against the posts and are held in place by grooves provided in front and rear top frames which are connected to the top ends of the posts. The side panels are slidable while the front and rear panels are stationary.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is claiming priority of Provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/654,568 filed Feb. 18, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a draft protection device for a balance and to a balance equipped with the draft protection device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Draft protection devices for balances are known in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,694 discloses a draft shield design. The draft shield is mounted on a top cover of the balance and includes front and rear panels as well as two side panels forming a main chamber, wherein the side panels and a top panel are slidable. However, the panels are not removable without the use of a tool and, therefore, it is not easy to clean the draft shield. The top panel slides on the inside on side rails, so that it is not possible to place an object which is taller and wider than the draft shield into the main chamber of the balance.

In existing draft shield designs, structural stiffness is provided through a rugged back panel or a full frame structure of the slidable top panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a draft protection device for a balance with slidable side doors and a flip top cover without a top frame being mounted between the sliding panels and the top cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the user of the balance with easy access to cleaning all parts of the draft shield.

In accordance with the present invention, the draft protection device is comprised of four posts which are fixedly mounted in the corners of the top cover of the balance, wherein the posts extend vertically. The front and rear panels rest against the rods and are held in place by a groove provided in the top cover of the balance and in top frames mounted in the posts.

In accordance with the configuration according to the present invention, a frameless design of the draft protection is provided which allows the user to place an object onto the weighing dish which is taller and wider than the overall height and width of the balance, while still having the advantage of a front and rear protection against any draft influences.

The configuration according to the present invention also makes it possible to provide easy access to all structural components of the draft shield in order to make it possible to clean whole parts of the draft shield. This is made possible by the removable side, front, and back panels as well as the slidable top panel.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the balance with draft protection device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the draft protection device and balance of FIG. 1, with the gliders of the side panels and the glider block thereof being shown on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a rear top frame of the draft protection device; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the assembly of the draft protection device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a balance includes a top cover 6 comprised of a sheet metal plate 12 and a weighing dish.

The draft protection device is comprised of vertically extending rods 4 which support the front panel 2 d and the rear panel 2 c and are not slidable. Side panels 2 a and 2 b are provided so as to be slidable in a groove 7 in the top frame 3 b.

The rods 4 provide the main structural support of the draft protection device which is composed of the panels.

The rods 4 may be of stainless steel or carbon filled plastic material.

As seen in FIG. 2, the front panel 2 d is held in place by a front frame member 3 a extending across the upper ends of the rods 4 and the rear panel 2 c is held in place by a rear top frame 3 b which is provided with a clip 5 engaging the panel 2 c and by a groove in the scale top cover 6.

In the installed position of the front and rear panels 2 d and 2 c, the front and rear panels press against the rods 4. This acts as a seal against outside draft disturbances.

The side panels are held in place through grooves 7 in the front and rear top frames 3 a and 3 b, and by a glider 9, a glider block 10, and a sheet metal plate 12. The sheet metal plate forms the scale top cover 6. The glider 9 is mounted on the side panels 2 a and 2 b. The glider block 10 is mounted on the scale top cover 6. In the installed position, the two side panels can be moved between front and rear positions. The glider 9 has front and back limit stops 13 a and 13 b for controlling the travel range of the side panels. When in the closed position, the two side panels are pressed against the rods 4. This also acts as a seal against outside draft disturbances.

In order to be able to remove a side panel, the side panel must be in the closed position thereof. The glider 9 has a notch 11 which allows the side panel while in the closed position to be lifted upwardly into the groove 7 of the respective top frame 3 a, 3 b and be lifted over the glider block 10.

The top panel 2 e is a flip top panel which is connected to the rear top frame 3 b at hinge points 8 which are shown in FIG. 3.

When in the open position, the flip top panel can be removed by lifting it out of the hinges 8.

Accordingly, the draft protection device can be disassembled by first upwardly moving the flip top panel 2 e out of the hinges 8. Then the side panels can be removed by lifting the side panels so as to engage deeper into the grooves 7 of the respective top frame 3 a or 3 b. This allows the glider 9 to be moved through the notch 11 and to lift the side panel over the glider block 10.

Then the front and rear panels can be removed by actuating the clips 5 and releasing the side panel.

The sequence of assembling the draft protection device is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 

1. A draft protection device for a balance having a scale top cover and vertically extending rods attached to corners of the scale top cover, and a weighing dish, the draft protection device comprising stationary front and rear panels and slidable side panels and a flip top panel, front and rear top frames extending across top ends of the rods, wherein the front and rear panels engage in grooves of the scale flip top panel and of the front and top frames, wherein, in the assembled state, the front and rear panels are in contact with the rods, the side panels being slidable in grooves of the front and rear top frames and on the scale flip top panel, wherein the side panels have means for controlling the travel range of the side panels on the scale flip top panel, and wherein the flip top cover is connected to the rear top frame so as to be pivotable.
 2. The draft protection device according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear panels are releasably connected to the front and rear top frames by a clip.
 3. The draft protection device according to claim 1, wherein the rods are of stainless steel or carbon filled plastic material.
 4. The draft protection device according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the travel range of the side panels is comprised of back limit stops attached to gliders at bottom edges of the side panels.
 5. The draft protection device according to claim 1, wherein the side panels have notches in the gliders for allowing the side panels to be lifted when in the closed position.
 6. The draft protection device according to claim 1, wherein the flip top panel is attached to the rear top frame in hinges attached to the rear top frame.
 7. A balance in combination with a draft protection device, the balance having a scale top cover, a weighing dish and vertically extending rods attached to corners of the scale top cover, wherein the draft protection device comprises stationary front and rear panels and slidable side panels and a flip top panel, front and rear top frames extending across top ends of the rods, wherein the front and rear panels engage in grooves of the scale flip top panel and of the front and top frames, wherein, in the assembled state, the front and rear panels are in contact with the rods, the side panels being slidable in grooves of the front and rear top frames and on the scale flip top panel, wherein the side panels have means for controlling the travel range of the side panels on the scale flip top panel, and wherein the flip top panel is connected to the rear top frame so as to be pivotable.
 8. The balance according to claim 7, wherein the front and rear panels are releasably connected to the front and rear top frames by a clip.
 9. The balance according to claim 7, wherein the rods are of stainless steel or carbon filled plastic material.
 10. The balance according to claim 7, wherein the means for controlling the travel range of the side panels is comprised of back limit stops attached to gliders at bottom edges of the side panels.
 11. The balance according to claim 7, wherein the side panels have notches in the gliders for allowing the side panels to be lifted when in the closed position.
 12. The balance according to claim 7, wherein the flip top panel is attached to the rear top frame in hinges attached to the rear top frame. 